Sassy’s Guide to Team Sports in Hong Kong

Make friends, get active and learn a whole new sport!

When I first moved to Hong Kong a friend asked if I played netball. I hadn’t played since school, but I was more than willing to give it a go. It was a big step out of my comfort zone, but I was keen to meet new people. I thought moving to a new country was a great opportunity to try as many new things as possible, and this was one of them. I’ve since discovered that team sports are huge in Hong Kong, and are a great way to make friends and find community. It genuinely doesn’t matter if you’re an expert, or a first-time player, as a lot of squads offer something for everyone. And for those who aren’t so sure and are looking to up their fitness before joining a team, there are plenty of ways to do that in this awesome city, with a wide range of fantastic boot camps and FREE fitness opportunities on offer.

Looking to join a team? Check out our guide below to find out everything you need to know!

Netball

With seven divisions and multiple clubs, netball’s popularity is increasing dramatically – and for good reason! There is so much variety in skill levels – newbies are welcomed with open arms and ex-national players compete in the highest division. Netball has a great camaraderie between the teams, with many engaging in social events outside of match days. There’s also the opportunity to play out of the league with different people through events like the Hong Kong Beach 5’s. There is even a mixed netball league during the summer!

I hadn’t played netball for nearly 20 years, and yet Valley, who I now play for, were able to offer me a spot on a team, as they have 10 teams that play across all divisions. Valley offers free trials for its upcoming season from 22 to 24 August, further details can be found on its Facebook page.

Hong Kong Scottish is another great option for getting into netball, with six teams of varying abilities, meaning there is something for everyone, from elite to first time players. More details can also be found on Facebook.

Season dates: October to April, mixed netball April to JuneWhen to sign up: AugustHow to sign up: Check out the Hong Kong Netball Association’s website where you can find further details about all the other clubs and contact points. There are clubs operating all over Hong Kong.Average membership fees: Between $2,000 to $3,000, including weekly training and uniforms

Lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse is fast becoming popular throughout Hong Kong, with men’s teams and a mixed league too. The league consists of six teams, all of mixed ability, so it’s a sport that can be taken up by anyone! Great for fitness and hand-eye coordination, lacrosse is an awesome sport to try out if you feel like a challenge. HKLA also hosts an annual tournament; the Hong Kong Lacrosse Open each year, which is a jam-packed weekend full of games and social events.

Season dates: April to JuneWhen to sign up: JanuaryHow to sign up: If you’re interested, be sure to check out the Hong Kong Lacrosse Association for more info!Average membership fees: enquire at [email protected] for fees and information.

Hockey

Hockey is another team sport filled with spirited and passionate women. There are six divisions of women’s hockey in Hong Kong, ensuring the skill level is diverse. And with 19 teams, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Once again, beginners are welcome to try out for many of the teams, and there is a strong social core ensuring team spirit is alive and well. League games in Winter are typically played on a Saturday and a mixed league operates during the Summer months. The larger clubs Valley, Hong Kong Cricket Club and Hong Kong Football club all field a variety of teams of different abilities, and all of these clubs offer something for new players, as well as for those with more experience, with teams playing in all of the leagues.

Season dates: September to AprilWhen to sign up: AugustHow to sign up: For more information on how to get involved check out Hong Kong Hockey AssociationAverage membership fees: $2,000 to $3,000

Volleyball

The sport to try if you want to build muscle and burn fat, volleyball is quite the work out! The Hong Kong Volleyball Meetup group and the Indoor Volleyball Meetup group regularly organise games for all levels across Hong Kong – including indoor, outdoor and beach volleyball. The best way to get involved is to sign up for these social games as you’ll be likely to meet people, and then be able to join a team if you want to get competitive. The social games are open to all, and are a great way for newbies to get involved. This is also an easy way to try out a new sport, without a fixed level of commitment.

Season dates: There are two major tournaments per year: The Marathon in September and the Championship at the start of the year.When to sign up: Join social games at any time via meetupHow to sign up:Hong Kong Volleyball Meetup and Indoor Volleyball Meetup groupAverage membership fees: There are no fees for social games – court costs are split and average $12 per person

Dodgeball

Not only is this a “thing” in Hong Kong, it’s a big thing! In fact, Hong Kong is one of the founding members of the World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF). Many of my friends play dodgeball and cannot rave highly enough about it. There are two women’s divisions but the regular division is mixed and there are more teams than you can shake a stick at… All with quirky names such as ‘Eat My Balls’ and ‘The Good, The Bad and The Balls’! You can find more information in our Sassy guide.

Season dates: Starts late AugustWhen to sign up: Sessions happen all year aroundHow to sign up: Get involved in this super fun, alternative sport and check out the Hong Kong Dodgeball Association!Average membership fees: Its costs $10,000 to enter a team of 10 to 12 players, so this averages about $900 per person for 10 games

Rugby

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Hong Kong is rugby obsessed. From minis to men’s, women’s to senior’s, rugby is deeply engrained in Hong Kong’s community. Not for the faint hearted, I have the upmost respect for girls that play this full contact sport. There are 13 clubs, with a league for 15s and 10s.

Once again Valley is a great option for getting involved in this sport as is the Hong Kong Football Club. I have several friends who play for HKFC ladies rugby teams and one thing I know for sure, is that those ladies love a good time (on and off the field!). There are two teams at HKFC, offering opportunities for new players to develop their skills, and for existing players to get even better.

Season dates: September to AprilWhen to sign up: July to AugustHow to sign up: Check out HKRFU website.Average membership fees: $2,000 to $3,000

Cricket

Yes, women’s cricket is a thing too. Who knew? But the women’s league is going from strength to strength and now hosts a 35-over competition featuring five teams. There is also a Women’s Twenty20 Cup, which contains seven teams, and a Women’s Sixes tournament, which features all 10 teams, played over two days. Games are played at the weekend and Hong Kong Cricket Club and Kowloon Cricket Club are two of the clubs currently fielding sides.

Season dates: September to AprilWhen to sign up: Trials are in AugustHow to sign up: For more information, and to find a team, check out Cricket Hong KongAverage membership fees: Kowloon Cricket Club costs just $100 per month for women aged 27 and under.

Dragon Boat Racing

From what I’ve seen of my friends who compete in Dragon Boat Racing Teams, these people are highly social and the teams are a great way to make friends. The Focus of the calendar is clearly the Dragon Boat Festival in June, which sees international teams coming to compete alongside our own. The competition is fierce, and the hangover after the team parties is even fiercer. I have to admit to being tempted to join after watching the vibe down at Stanley this year. It’s also a great sport if you love being outdoors and near the water. Some teams recruit throughout the year, but most start in January when they begin to train regularly, making it a great way to get fit. Check out Stormy Dragons, who I know to be a fabulously social team or The Buzz Dragon Society. The Buzz Dragon Dociety has a mixture of teams who compete in various races. With members from all over the world, new members are welcome via its website. Alternatively, it’s possible to enter a team just for the main race in June.

Season dates: January to JuneWhen to sign up: DecemberHow to sign up: Hong Kong China Dragon Boat AssociationAverage membership fees: Approx. $3,000 for 12 months, including all race fees. Approx. $400 to $1,000 just to enter for the Stanley race – but this also includes 10 hours of practices, a steersman and someone to teach you the key skills you need.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally written by Charlotte Ingram, published on 14 March 2014, and was updated by Carrie Johnson on 17 July 2017.

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Carrie Johnson

Always looking for her next adventure, Carrie has true wanderlust and is on a mission to see as many Countries as possible. A huge fan of the great outdoors she is always up for a challenge and loves trying new and exciting things. You'll often find her working out in one of the local parks (she also runs November Project in HK - a free fitness movement) or hanging upside down from a hoop.